Techniques for managing information relating to recyclable containers

ABSTRACT

Methods and apparatus are provided for managing information relating to recycling activities. In one embodiment, a method is provided in which a consumer returns beverage containers to a redemption kiosk offering a significantly improved consumer experience. Rather than having to wait for an attendant to count the containers and provide value in exchange, an account is maintained for the consumer to which the containers&#39; value is ascribed. The redemption kiosk projects a neat and sanitary appearance, and is designed to be situated in a parking lot outside a retail location so as not to occupy valuable floor space. Information on consumer recycling activities is captured and analyzed to support marketing activities.

GOVERNMENT SPONSORED RESEARCH

This invention was developed in part using funding provided by the MaineTechnology Institute under award number DA916, approved on Oct. 13,2005. The state of Maine may have certain rights relating to thisinvention.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to techniques for managing information related toconsumer recycling activities.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Many states have enacted legislation requiring that beverage containerscarry a redemption deposit to encourage recycling. For example, a numberof states impose redemption deposits of up to fifteen cents for eachcan, bottle, and/or other container sold. In other states in which noredemption deposit is imposed there have been extensive efforts toencourage voluntary recycling by consumers of beverage containers.

Typically, after the beverages stored in containers have been consumed,the consumer transports the containers to a return center (e.g., at aretail location such as a supermarket, or a stand-alone redemptioncenter). The consumer may be forced to wait in line while an attendantat the return center serves other consumers. When the consumer presentsthe containers to the attendant, the consumer waits while the attendantcounts, sorts and verifies the containers. The attendant may providevalue to the consumer in exchange for the containers, such as legaltender in the amount of the total redemption deposit or some othervalue. Given that the consumer may be forced to wait for a significantperiod to receive a relatively small value in exchange for thecontainers, the consumer may be dissuaded from returning containers.This may hinder efforts to encourage recycling.

A return center generally houses a large, cumbersome apparatus designedto destroy containers so that the material from they are formed may berecovered for reuse. Generally, the apparatus occupies a large amount offloor space, which may be costly when located in a retail location,since that floor space might otherwise be used to stock products forsale. In addition, because the apparatus stores used beveragecontainers, it may give off foul odors and have an unsanitaryappearance, which may further discourage consumers from visiting thereturn center. This may also hinder efforts to encourage consumers torecycle beverage containers.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a method of managinginformation relating to consumer recycling activities is provided. Themethod comprises acts of: (A) performing a recycling transaction witheach of a plurality of consumers, each consumer being identifiable via aconsumer identifier, each recycling transaction comprising an exchangeof at least one recyclable container returned by a consumer for value;(B) assigning a transaction identifier to each recycling transaction;and (C) storing, in electronic file storage, an indication of eachrecycling transaction, the indication including the transactionidentifier and consumer identifier.

In accordance with another embodiment, at least one computer-readablemedium is provided having instructions encoded thereon, whichinstructions, when executed, perform a method of managing informationrelating to consumer recycling activities. The method comprises acts of:(A) performing a recycling transaction with each of a plurality ofconsumers, each consumer being identifiable via a consumer identifier,each recycling transaction comprising an exchange of at least onerecyclable container returned by a consumer for value; (B) assigning atransaction identifier to each recycling transaction; and (C) storing,in electronic file storage, an indication of each recycling transaction,the indication including the transaction identifier and consumeridentifier.

In accordance with yet another embodiment, a system is provided formanaging information relating to consumer recycling activities. Thesystem comprises: a transaction controller operable to perform arecycling transaction with each of a plurality of consumers, eachconsumer being identifiable via a consumer identifier, each recyclingtransaction comprising an exchange of at least one recyclable containerreturned by a consumer for value; an assignment controller operable toassign a transaction identifier to each recycling transaction; anelectronic file storage; and a storage controller operable to store, inthe electronic file storage, an indication of each recyclingtransaction, the indication including the transaction identifier andconsumer identifier.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. In thedrawings, each identical or nearly identical component that isillustrated in various figures is represented by a like numeral. Forpurposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in everydrawing. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting an exemplary technique for managinginformation relating to recycling and redemption activities, inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart depicting an exemplary technique for processingcontainers returned by a consumer, in accordance with one embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 3 is a representation of an exemplary schema for organizinginformation relating to recyclable containers, in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram depicting relationships between one or moreredemption kiosks, container processing facilities and consumerinformation facilities, in accordance with one embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 5 is a representation of an exemplary schema for organizinginformation relating to consumers, in accordance with one embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 6 is a representation of an exemplary screen interface which allowsa user to enter verification information relating to a consumer, inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a representation of an exemplary screen interface which allowsa user to add or edit information relating to a consumer, in accordancewith one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a representation of an exemplary screen interface which allowsa user to add or search for information relating to a manager or clerk,in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a representation of an exemplary screen interface which allowsa user to add or edit information relating to a manager or clerk, inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a representation of an exemplary screen interface whichallows a user to add or edit information relating to particular storelocation, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram depicting an exemplary computer system onwhich aspects of embodiments of the invention may be implemented; and

FIG. 12 is a block diagram depicting an exemplary memory on whichaspects of embodiments of the invention may be implemented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a technique forreceiving, processing and providing value in exchange for recyclablecontainers is provided. As described above, conventional arrangementsgenerally require a consumer to transport recyclable containers to areturn center which may not project a sanitary appearance, and where theconsumer may be forced to wait for an attendant to accept thecontainers. This may discourage recycling by consumers. In addition, thereturn center typically houses a large processing apparatus that canoccupy a significant amount of floor space. This may be costly when thereturn center is located at a retail locations, since that floor spacemay otherwise be used to display products for sale. This may also hinderefforts to encourage recycling.

Embodiments of the invention are designed to address these and otherissues associated with conventional arrangements. In accordance with oneembodiment, a return center is provided which offers a significantlyimproved consumer experience. For example, the return center may presenta clean look and feel, and not require that a consumer wait in line foran attendant to return recyclable containers. Further, the return centermay not occupy an unduly large amount of valuable floor space, butinstead may be located outside a retail location, such as in a parkinglot, which remains convenient for consumers but allows the retaillocation to devote the floor space that would otherwise be allocated tothe processing apparatus to presenting goods for sale.

In one embodiment, a redemption kiosk, which in one embodiment is asmall prefabricated structure, is provided. The structure may bedesigned to be situated in one or more parking spaces in a lot, or someother area nearby a retail location. One or more attendants may bestationed at the redemption kiosk. When a consumer arrives at theredemption kiosk, he or she may be greeted by one of the attendants, whomay preliminarily inspect containers brought by the consumer to theredemption kiosk. Upon inspecting the containers, the attendant maytemporarily store the containers inside the redemption kiosk, andprovide the consumer with a representation of value (e.g., a paperreceipt, coupons, etc.) in exchange for the containers. Later,containers stored at the redemption kiosk may be transported to aprocessing apparatus at a separate location.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a consumer mayregister for an account prior to visiting the redemption kiosk, allowingthe value provided to the consumer in exchange for the containers to beascribed to the account and eliminating the need for the consumer towait for an attendant to count the containers to receive that value.This may expedite the process of returning containers from theconsumer's perspective, and thus encourage recycling.

In accordance with one embodiment, upon registering for an account, aconsumer may be issued an identifier and provided with an article (e.g.,a card, keychain tag, bag in which recyclable containers may be stored,etc.) which has the identifier represented (e.g., printed, encoded,etc.) thereon. When a consumer visits the redemption kiosk, he or shemay provide the article (or identifier) to an attendant, who mayinitiate a transaction to be associated with that identifier. Uponreceiving containers returned by the consumer, the attendant may providethe consumer with a representation of value (e.g., a receipt) for thecontainers, which representation may include the consumer's identifierand/or a separate identifier for the transaction. The attendant may thenstore the containers at the redemption kiosk so that they are keptseparate from containers received from other consumers. For example,containers may be stored in a bag with a paper receipt having theconsumer identifier and/or transaction identifier printed thereon. Thecontainers may subsequently be transported to a recycling apparatus forprocessing. Information represented on the containers (e.g., a bar codeor other identifying indicia) may be captured and stored. Thisinformation may enable the identification of the value that should beprovided to the consumer in exchange for the containers. Value may beprovided in any suitable form, including cash or other form of legaltender, credit, coupons, and/or any other form. Once the value isdetermined, it may be ascribed to the consumer's account (e.g., usingthe transaction identifier).

In one embodiment, the consumer may nominate another account (e.g., afinancial account such as a checking or savings account) to be linked tothe account used for recycling activity, such that value ascribed to therecycling account is automatically ascribed to the linked account.Alternatively, the consumer may direct that value ascribed to therecycling account be donated to charity, or be held in the recyclingaccount for the consumer to later withdraw, and/or be assigned,transferred or maintained in any other suitable manner. The invention isnot limited in this respect.

One example of a process for receiving, processing and providing valuein exchange for recyclable containers is illustrated in FIG. 1. In act105, a consumer 100 arrives at a redemption kiosk 102 and is greeted byan attendant (not shown). A redemption kiosk 102 may be physicallysituated in any suitable location. In one embodiment, the kiosk issituated at a location which is familiar and convenient to consumers,such as at a retail location (e.g., a grocery or liquor store), andcomprises a prefabricated structure situated outside the retail locationso as not to occupy valuable floor space therein. The structure may bemodular to allow for flexible adaptation to a variety of settings. Forexample, when designed to be situated in a parking lot, the structuremay be dimensioned to fit in one or more parking spaces, such that theconsumer may simply drive up to an adjacent or nearby parking space.When designed to be situated in other settings, the structure may beadapted to suit the dimensions and other characteristics of thosesettings.

In act 110, the attendant receives an identifier from the consumer. Forexample, the consumer may supply an article having the consumeridentifier represented thereon, such as a card having the identifierelectronically encoded thereon and/or a bag holding containers havingthe identifier printed thereon. The attendant may process the article todetermine the identifier, such as by using a magnetic card reader, a barcode reader, other device, via visual inspection, or using some othertechnique.

In some cases, a consumer may not have been assigned an identifierbefore arriving at the redemption kiosk. For example, the consumer maynot have registered for an account prior to visiting the kiosk. If thisis the case, the attendant may ask the consumer whether he or she wishesto register for an account. If so, a facility may be provided at theredemption kiosk which allows the consumer to register for an account.For example, a computer may be provided which provides a web-basedinterface to a sign-up screen (e.g., the interface described below withreference to FIGS. 6-11), allowing an identifier to be assignedimmediately to the consumer. Alternatively, the consumer may be given aform to fill out or be referred to a website to visit later to register.

In other cases, a consumer may have been assigned an identifier beforearriving at the redemption kiosk but may not have the article with themwhich has the identifier represented thereon. For example, the consumermay forget to bring his or her card with the identifier encoded thereonto the kiosk. If so, the consumer may provide the identifier to theattendant verbally, or if the consumer can not remember the identifier,the kiosk may have a facility which allows the attendant to look up theidentifier in a database using consumer information, such as theconsumer's name, address and/or other information.

In still other cases, a consumer may not have been assigned anidentifier and may not wish to register for an account. If so, theconsumer may receive value (e.g., cash) immediately from the attendantin exchange for the containers. This scenario is beyond the scope of theprocess depicted in FIG. l .The remainder of the description of FIG. 1below assumes that the consumer either registers for an account prior tovisiting the redemption kiosk, or that an account is created (and aconsumer identifier is assigned) upon the consumer's arrival.

Returning to FIG. 1, in act 115, the consumer identifier is sent to aconsumer information facility as part of a request for a transactionidentifier. The transmission of the consumer identifier to the consumerinformation facility may be accomplished in any suitable way, as theinvention is not limited in this respect. In one example, the attendantat redemption kiosk 102 employs a device (e.g., a card reader) which iscoupled to computer 101, and computer 101 communicates the consumeridentifier via one or more communications networks to consumerinformation facility 104. The communication network(s) may include anysuitable infrastructure and employ any suitable communicationprotocol(s).

In one embodiment, consumer information facility 104 provides a webservice 107 (an implementation well-known to those skilled in thecomputer programming art) which receives the request sent in act 115.The web service causes a transaction identifier to be generated, such asby accessing consumer database 112, determining the last transactionidentifier assigned, and assigning the next identifier in sequence. Alogical relationship is created between the transaction identifier andthe consumer identifier. In act 120, the transaction identifier is sentto redemption kiosk 102, such as by using the same communicationnetwork(s) employed in act 115.

When the transaction identifier is received at the redemption kiosk, theattendant preliminarily counts and/or identifies containers provided bythe consumer in act 125. This may be performed manually, using anautomatic counting device (e.g., a handheld or automatic scanner or thelike), or using any other suitable device and/or technique. Because thecount is only preliminary, it need not be exact and can be performedquickly. Based on the preliminary count, the attendant provides theconsumer with a representation of value for the containers (e.g., apaper receipt, which may indicate a value attributable to containersreceived, or another value). The representation may include thetransaction identifier and/or consumer identifier.

The attendant may temporarily store the containers at the redemptionkiosk, such as in a shelved area designed for that purpose. Thecontainers may be identified as being associated with the consideredtransaction. For example, a copy of a paper receipt having thetransaction identifier printed thereon may be placed with thecontainers, such as in a bag holding the containers. Of course, multiplesets of containers may be stored at the redemption kiosk, each havingtheir own associated transaction identifier.

The containers are subsequently transported in act 135 to containerprocessing facility 106, where they are processed in act 140. Forexample, the containers may be transported to a container processingfacility 106 by automobile or truck after having been staged for asuitable period, such as a day.

Processing is performed at facility 106 to identify and process (e.g.,destroy and/or densify) each of the containers. This may occur in anysuitable fashion, as the invention is not limited to a particularimplementation. In one example, containers may be processed according totechniques disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser.No. 11/042,479, as described below with reference to FIG. 3.

In one embodiment, processing in act 140 involves processing eachcontainer to determine the container's characteristics. For example, acontainer may have indicia printed thereon (e.g., a bar code) which maybe compared to information stored in container processing database 108to identify the type of container, the material from which it is formed,the distributor to which the material should be delivered, etc. Ifinformation on the container can be read and successfully compared toinformation stored in container processing database 108, the containeris densified (e.g., shredded, crushed or otherwise destroyed). Thematerial produced via densification may be stored at containerprocessing facility 106, and information relating to the container maybe stored in container processing database 108. An exemplary schema forcontainer processing database is described below with reference to FIG.4. Information stored therein may include a value which should be givento the consumer in exchange for the container.

If information on a container can not be read or successfully comparedto information in container processing database 108, the container maybe initially rejected. Containers which are initially rejected may bemanually processed to determine whether value should be provided inexchange. For example, an operator may visually inspect a container. Ifthe operator determines that value should be provided in exchange forthe container, the operator may employ an input device (e.g., a handheldscanner, mouse, keyboard, etc.) to cause information relating to thecontainer to be entered into container processing database 108. Thisinformation may include the container type, size, material, value whichshould be provided in exchange, and/or any other suitable information.This information may be associated with the considered transaction sothat any value attributable to the container may be provided to theconsumer.

If the operator determines that the container is one for which no valueshould be provided (e.g., if the container is being redeemed for depositin a state other than the one in which it was purchased), then theoperator may cause the container to be destroyed, but a value may not beassociated with the transaction in container processing database 108.

In act 145, information relating to the containers, and the transactionidentifier, is sent from container processing facility 106 to consumerinformation facility 104 so that an appropriate value for thetransaction may be ascribed to the consumer's account. The informationmay be sent in any suitable fashion, such as via the Internet and/or anyother suitable data communication network(s), using any suitableinfrastructure and/or protocol(s). The invention is not limited to aparticular implementation.

When the information is received at consumer information facility 104,it is processed in act 150 to ascribe a value for the containersincluded in the transaction to the consumer's account. In oneembodiment, the consumer's account is determined based on thetransaction identifier, employing the logical relationship establishedbetween the transaction identifier and the consumer identifier.

The value that should be applied to the consumer's account may bedetermined in any of numerous ways. In one example, an indication of thevalue to be ascribed may be sent by container processing facility 106 inact 145 and applied by consumer information facility 104 in act 150. Inanother example, the information sent in act 145 may include informationon individual containers, such that consumer information facility 104performs a lookup (e.g., on container information stored in consumerdatabase 112) to determine a value attributable to each container thatshould be applied to the consumer's account.

As described above, a consumer may nominate a separate account to belinked to the recycling account maintained by consumer informationfacility 104. In the embodiment shown, the separate linked account is atfinancial institution 114. In act 155, consumer information facility 104provides information to financial institution 114 which is usablethereby to credit the value attributable to the containers to theconsumer's account at financial institution 114. This information mayinclude, for example, the account number, a routing number for afinancial institution at which the account is held, the transactionidentifier, the value to be ascribed to the account, and/or otherinformation. When this information is provided, the financialinstitution may apply the value for the transaction the consumer'saccount.

As an alternative, instead of nominating a separate linked account towhich value should be transferred, the consumer may direct that valueshould be held in the recycling account for subsequent withdrawal. Theconsumer may, for example, be issued a card having a consumer identifierrepresented thereon which is usable to access this account (e.g., thiscard may be the article described above with reference to act 110). Thecard may be presentable by the consumer, for example, at retaillocations, such that value held in the consumer's account may be appliedtoward purchases and/or other transactions at these retail locations. Ofcourse, a card need not be issued to the consumer for the consumer to beable to withdraw value from the account. Any suitable technique forallowing a consumer access to the value held in the account may beemployed, as the invention is not limited in this respect.

In act 160, information relating to the transaction is stored inconsumer database 112. Any suitable information may be stored, includingthe types of containers processed in act 140 (e.g., provided to consumerinformation facility 104 in act 145), the date and time the consumervisited the redemption kiosk 104 (e.g., captured during act 117), and/orother transaction information. Consumer database 112 may later bequeried to access information on redemption activities by particularconsumers, the redemption of particular containers, containers providedto particular distributors, and/or other information. This is describedin further detail below.

It should be appreciated that the process described with reference toFIG. 1 is merely an example, and that numerous variations are possible.For example, consumer information facility 104 need not employ a webservice 107 to assign a transaction identifier, container informationdatabase 108 need not be co-located with container processing facility106, and consumer information facility 104 need not be co-located withconsumer information database 112. Further, instead of linking afinancial account to his or her recycling account, a consumer mayinstruct that the value for a recycling transaction be given to acharitable organization. The invention is not limited to any particularimplementation.

As described above, containers may be transported from the redemptionkiosk to a container processing facility. At such a facility,information on the containers may be identified, information relating tothe containers may be stored in a database, and the containers may bedestroyed. One example of a technique for processing containers isdescribed in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/042,479, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Processing RecyclableContainers,” which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.For ease of description, relevant portions of the above-referencedapplication are summarized below, but it should be appreciated that thepresent invention is not limited to employing such techniques.Embodiments of the invention may be implemented in any of numerous ways.

The exemplary container processing technique described in theabove-referenced application is summarized below with reference to FIG.2. At the start of process 200, a container is received by the system inact 210. A container may be manually or automatically fed to the system.In one embodiment, a container may be presented manually (e.g., by anoperator) to the system via an intake platform. However, any suitableintake mechanism may be employed.

At the completion of act 210, the process proceeds to act 220, whereinone or more defining characteristics of the container are determined.For example, a scanner may be employed to determine a characteristic ofthe container, such as a bar code or some other identifying indiciarepresented on the surface of the container. The characteristics maythen be compared to information stored in electronic file storage todetermine whether the characteristics are known to represent aparticular recyclable container.

The process then proceeds to act 230, wherein a determination is made asto whether the container characteristics were identified successfully inact 220. For example, act 230 may involve determining whether a scanningdevice was able to successfully locate a bar code on the surface of thecontainer, and if so, whether the information was compared successfullyto data stored in electronic file storage. If it is determined that thecontainer characteristics were not identified successfully, the processproceeds to act 240, wherein the container is rejected. For example, thecontainer may be directed to a reject bin.

If it is determined in act 230 that the characteristics of the containerwere identified successfully in act 220, the process proceeds to act250, wherein an indication of the successful identification is stored inelectronic file storage and the appropriate densification device for thecontainer is selected. In one embodiment, information stored inelectronic file storage may define an association between a particularcharacteristic (e.g., a bar code) and a densification device. Forexample, an association may define that containers formed from aaluminum should be directed to a shredder device.

At the completion of act 250, the process proceeds to act 260, whereinthe container is conveyed to a specific densification device. In act270, the container is destroyed using the densification device. Thecontainer is then received in a bin in act 280, whereupon process 200completes.

During the process of FIG. 2, information relating to successfullyprocessed containers is stored in electronic file storage, such as incontainer processing database 108. A simplified schema 300 defining onemanner of storing information in container processing database 108 isshown in FIG. 3.

Schema 300 includes representations of a plurality of tables, eachcontaining a plurality of fields (e.g., columns) in which data elementsrelating to containers are stored. As with many relational databases,certain fields in each table are related to fields in other tables via aforeign key to ensure that information in each table remains consistent.In this exemplary schema 300, container table 305 stores data elementswhich identify individual containers, including a container identifier,Universal Product Code (UPC), material, color, name, weight andredemption value. A foreign key maintains consistency between thecontainer identifier stored in container table 305 and the productidentifier stored in transaction summary table 310, which also storesdata elements describing individual redemption transactions. This tablealso stores a transaction identifier, product quantity, and shift duringwhich the considered transaction was processed. A foreign key maintainsconsistency between the transaction identifiers stored in transactionsummary table 310 and consumer transaction table 315, which provides across-reference between a consumer identifier (e.g., the identifierrepresented on the article presented by the consumer in act 110, FIG. 1)and the transaction identifier.

Schema 300 also includes person table 325, which stores information ondistributors or other third parties which receive the containers afterprocessing. The person table stores the first name, last name, addressand telephone numbers for these parties. A foreign key maintainsconsistency between the person identifier stored in person table 325 andthe primary contact person stored in company table 330, which alsostores corporate-level information for the parties named in person table325. Fields stored in company table 330 include the name, address andtelephone number for each party.

Also represented by schema 300 is diagnostic logging table 340, whichstores information relating to events occurring on the containerprocessing facility for diagnostic purposes. This table stores dataelements including an event time, machine affected, and code for eachcaptured event. As indicated by the machine affected field, this tablemay store information on events occurring on more than one containerprocessing facility. Information on events may be transferred betweenfacilities using any suitable technique, such as database replication(e.g., event information stored in one container processing database 108may be replicated to other, similar databases maintained at othercontainer processing facilities 106).

Schema 300 also includes a representation of redemption site table 350,which stores information on individual redemption kiosks. Redemptionsite table 350 stores data elements including the name, address,telephone number and owner for each center.

Also represented by schema 300 is scrap container table 360, whichstores information on materials from which recyclable containers areformed. Scrap container table 360 maintains a cross-reference betweenvarious types of materials and the densification device used to processeach, and also stores data elements including a color, weight andstorage bin for each material type.

The manner in which schema 300 is organized provides for flexiblerelationships between different information stored in various tables.One result is that schema 300 allows for one-to-many, many-to-one andmany-to-many relationships between redemption kiosks and containerprocessing facilities. FIG. 4 illustrates one manner in which redemptionkiosks, container processing facilities and a consumer informationfacility may be related or organized. Specifically, FIG. 4 illustratesthat redemption kiosks, container processing facilities and a consumerinformation facility may be organized in a “hub and spoke” fashion, suchthat information flows through the spokes formed by redemption kiosksand container processing facilities toward the hub formed by theconsumer information facility.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, consumer information facility 104 atthe hub receives information from a plurality of container processingfacilities 106A-106D. Each container processing facility 106 receivesinformation and containers from a plurality of redemption kiosks 102.For example, container processing facility 106A receives information andcontainers from redemption kiosks 102A-102C, and container processingfacility 106B receives information and containers from redemption kiosks102F-102H. Information flow from redemption kiosks 102 via containerprocessing facilities 106 to the consumer information facility 104allows for the aggregation of information relating to consumer recyclingactivities at consumer information facility 104, and more specificallyin consumer database 112.

As indicated by the dotted lines 170 in FIG. 4, the hub and spokeorganization is flexible in that information need not always flow fromredemption kiosks 102 to the same container processing facilities 106.For example, the dotted lines 170 between redemption kiosks 102D and102E and container processing facilities 106A and 106B indicates thatinformation may flow from redemption kiosks 102D and 102E to eithercontainer processing facility 106A or 106B. The determination of aparticular container processing facility 106 to which information(and/or containers) from a particular redemption kiosk 102 is sent maybe based on any of numerous factors, including the capacity and workloadof each container processing facility, each facility's ability to handlecontainers of a particular type and/or material, the current status of afacility, and/or other factors.

In the exemplary arrangement illustrated in FIG. 4, information fromeach container processing facility 106 is provided to a single consumerinformation facility 104. However, this need not be the case, asmultiple consumer information facilities 104 may alternatively beprovided, each receiving information from one or more containerprocessing facilities 106. Each consumer information facility 104 mayshare information with each other consumer information facility 104,such as by performing a database replication procedure well-known tothose skilled in the art, such that information stored in one consumerdatabase 112 (e.g., maintained at a first consumer information facility104) is replicated to one or more other consumer databases 112 (e.g.,maintained at one or more other consumer information facilities 104).

As a result of the organization shown in FIG. 4, information relating toconsumer recycling activities may be aggregated and organized in one ormore consumer databases 112. A simplified schema 500 defining anexemplary manner of storing information in a consumer database 112 isshown in FIG. 5. Schema 500 includes representations of consumer table505, consumer transaction table 510 and transaction table 515.

Consumer table 505 stores various data identifying individual consumers,including a consumer identifier (also represented on the articledescribed above with reference to act 110, FIG. 1), first name, lastname, address and telephone number. Consumer table 505 also stores theconsumer's mother's maiden name and high school attended, which may beemployed to support security and verification functions describedfurther below. In addition, consumer table 505 stores a bank routingnumber, bank account number, direct deposit indicator, cash refundindicator, donate to charity indicator and account balance, which may beemployed to support transfers of value from the consumer's recyclingaccount to other accounts or transferees. A foreign key 512 is employedto maintain consistency between the consumer identifier in consumertable 505 and the consumer identifier stored in consumer transactiontable 510.

Consumer transaction table 510 maintains a cross-reference between theconsumer identifier and transaction identifier generated in act 117(FIG. 1). As such, in addition to the foreign key used to maintainconsistency with the consumer identifier in consumer table 505, aforeign key 514 is employed to maintain consistency with the transactionidentifier stored in transaction table 515.

Transaction table 515 stores information relating to recyclingtransactions. In addition to the transaction identifier, transactiontable 515 stores an amount for the transaction, which for a particulartransaction may be preliminarily defined when an attendant counts thebeverage containers that a consumer returns to the redemption kiosk 102(e.g., in act 125, FIG. 1) and later updated after the containers areprocessed at a container processing facility 106 (e.g., in act 150, FIG.1). Transaction table 515 also stores an identifier for the attendantwho processes the recycling transaction, the location of the redemptionkiosk (e.g., a geographic location), the consumer identifier, and thetime and date of the transaction.

It should be appreciated that the information stored in containerprocessing database 108 and consumer database 112 provides significantinsight into recycling activities by particular consumers, or consumersin aggregate. For example, accessing information stored in transactiontable 515 (FIG. 5) can provides insight into the frequency and locationof a particular consumer's recycling activities, or can provide anindication of the average value for a recycling transaction across allconsumers.

It should also be appreciated that because container processing database108 and consumer database 112 store common data elements including theconsumer identifier and transaction identifier, information stored inone database may be cross-referenced with information in the otherdatabase to provide a more comprehensive view of consumer recycling andbeverage consumption activities. For example, a query may be executed ontransaction table 515 using a particular consumer identifier todetermine the frequency of that consumer's recycling activities, and thetransaction identifier associated with each recycling transaction. Usingthe transaction identifiers determined in this first query, a secondquery may be executed on transaction summary table 310 (FIG. 3) todetermine the beverage containers, and quantity of each, processed ineach transaction. This information may offer insight into the consumer'sfavorite beverages, the amount of these beverages that the consumertends to purchase, the frequency of purchase (or at least the frequencyof recycling), and whether there appears to be any seasonality to thesepurchases. The information generated in these queries may be used tofashion marketing offers tailored to the consumer's demonstrated habits,such as by offering coupons to the consumer for her favorite beveragesat the time that it appears she would normally purchase them.

Further, it should be appreciated that databases 112 and 108 may supportany of numerous queries to discern consumer behavior with respect tobeverage purchases, consumption, container recycling/or and otherinformation. The information generated thereby may be extremely valuablein supporting marketing targeted toward each consumer based on thatconsumer's demonstrated behavior. Such marketing efforts may be moreeffective and efficient than some conventional marketing efforts likemass mailings in that they may be more likely to present the right offerto the consumer at the right time. Those familiar with so-called“one-to-one” marketing efforts and/or the computer programming arts maybe capable of designing queries and/or marketing programs based on thisdisclosure to facilitate such efforts.

FIGS. 6-10 depict screen interfaces by means of which consumer accountinformation may be established, maintained and administered. Forexample, interface 600 (FIG. 6) includes fields 601 and 602, which allowa user (e.g., an administrator, or the consumer) to provide a user nameand password to access a particular account. Upon entering informationinto fields 601 and 602, the user may click button 603 to “submit” thisinformation so that the user's identity may be verified. Alternatively,the user may click button 604 to “reset” (e.g., remove) informationentered into fields 601 and 602.

If upon clicking button 603 the user's identity is successfullyverified, interface 700 (FIG. 7) may be presented. Interface 700 allowsa number of data elements relating to a particular consumer to be addedand/or edited. For example, a consumer's name may be entered into field701, an address may be entered in fields 703-706, and a telephone numbermay be entered in field 707. Box 708 allows the user to designatewhether a consumer's account is currently active.

Boxes 709-710 allow the user to enter information which forms the basisfor a “challenge question” which may be used to verify the consumer'sidentity, such as when the consumer forgets to bring the articledescribed above having a consumer identifier represented thereon toredemption kiosk 102. For example, box 709 allows the user to select oneof “high school attended” and “mother's date of birth” for the challengequestion, and box 710 allows the user to enter the appropriate answer.

Boxes 711 through 714 allow the user to designate whether anotheraccount is linked to the recycling account, such that value may betransferred from the recycling account to the designated account. Usingbox 711, a user may designate that any value be kept in the recyclingaccount as “cash” which may later be withdrawn. Using box 712 the usermay designate a checking account to be linked, using box 713 a savingsaccount may be linked, using box 714 a charity may be designated. If achecking or savings account is designated in boxes 712-713, the user mayenter routing and account numbers in boxes 715-716.

Upon completing the entry of information in interface 700, the user mayclick button 717 to “add/edit” the information entered to consumerdatabase 112. Alternatively, the user may click button 718 to “exit”from interface 700 such that the information is not entered.

Interface 800 (FIG. 8) allows the user to add or edit a manager or clerkto the database (e.g., an attendant or employee), who may have authorityto access or edit consumer accounts. By clicking button 801, the userbegins the “add manager/clerk” process. After, the user may select froma listing of positions in box 802, a listing of locations shown in box803, and enter the employee's first and last name in boxes 804-805.

The user may also search for information on particular managers orclerks by entering the employee's first or last name in boxes 804-805and clicking button 806 to “begin search”. This may cause a query to becreated and submitted, and the results to be displayed in portion 807.By clicking button 815 to “view” more detail relating to the selectedemployee, the user may cause interface 900 (FIG. 9) to be displayed.

Interface 900 allows information relating to a particular manager orclerk to be added or edited. For example, the manager or clerk's firstname, last name, identifier, position, active indicator, location, username and password may be accessed in boxes 901-905, respectively. Inorder for the entered information to be added to the database, the usermay be required to supply a user name and password in boxes 907-908 andclick box 909 to “update” the database.

Interface 1000 (FIG. 10) allows information relating to a particularstore (e.g., redemption kiosk) location to be added or edited. Forexample, the user may enter information including a store name,identifier, active indicator, address, telephone number, and fax numberfor a store location using fields 1001-1009, and click button 1010 tocause the information to be entered to the database.

As should be appreciated from the description above, various aspects ofthe invention may be implemented on one or more computer systems, suchas the exemplary system 1100 shown in FIG. 11. Computer system 1100includes input device(s) 1102, output device(s) 1101, processor 1103,memory system 1104 and storage 1106, all of which are coupled, directlyor indirectly, via interconnection mechanism 1105, which may compriseone or more buses or switches. The input device(s) 1102 receive inputfrom a user or machine (a human operator) and the output device(s) 1101display(s) or transmit(s) information to a user or a machine (e.g., aliquid crystal display).

The processor 1103 executes a program called an operating system whichcontrols the execution of other computer programs, and providesscheduling, input/output and other device control, accounting,compilation, storage assignment, data management, memory management,communication and data flow control. The processor 1103 and operatingsystem define the platform for which application programs and othercomputer programming languages are written.

The processor 1103 may also execute one or more programs to implementvarious functions, such as those which embody aspects of the invention.These programs may be written in a computer programming such as aprocedural language, object-oriented language, macro language, orcombination thereof.

These programs may be stored in storage system 1106. The storage systemmay hold information on a volatile or non-volatile medium, and may befixed or removable. Storage system 1106 is shown in greater detail inFIG. 12. It typically includes a computer-readable and -writablenon-volatile recording medium 1201, on which signals that define theprogram, or information to be used by the program, are stored. Themedium may, for example, be a disk or flash memory. Typically, inoperation, the processor 1203 causes data to be read from thenon-volatile recording medium 1201 into a volatile memory 1202 (e.g., arandom access memory, or RAM) that allows for faster access to theinformation by processor 1203 than does the medium 1201. Memory 1202 maybe located in storage system 1106, as shown in FIG. 11, or in memorysystem 1204, as shown in FIG. 12. The processor 1103 generallymanipulates the data within the integrated circuit memory 1104, 1202,and then copies the data to the medium 1201 after processing iscompleted. A variety of mechanisms are known for managing data movementbetween the medium 1201 and the integrated circuit memory 1104, 1202,and the invention is not limited thereto. The invention is also notlimited to a particular memory system 1204 or storage system 1106.

It should also be appreciated that the above-described embodiments ofthe invention may be implemented in any of numerous ways. For example,the above-discussed functionality may be implemented using software,hardware or a combination thereof. When implemented in software, thesoftware code can be executed on any suitable processor or collection ofprocessors, whether provided in a single computer or distributed amongmultiple computers. It should further be appreciated that any componentor collection of components that perform the function as describedherein may generically be considered as one or more controllers thatcontrol the above-described function. The one or more controllers may beimplemented in numerous, such as with dedicated hardware, or byemploying one or more processors which are programmed using microcode orsoftware to perform the functions recited above. Where a controllerstores or provides information for system operation, such informationmay be stored in a central repository, in a plurality of repositories,or a combination thereof.

Having thus described several aspects of at least one embodiment of thisinvention, it is to be appreciated various alterations, modifications,and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Suchalterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part ofthis disclosure, and are intended to be within the spirit and scope ofthe invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings areby way of example only.

1. A method of managing information relating to consumer recyclingactivities comprising acts of: (A) performing a recycling transactionwith each of a plurality of consumers, each consumer being identifiablevia a consumer identifier, each recycling transaction comprising anexchange of at least one recyclable container returned by a consumer forvalue; (B) assigning a transaction identifier to each recyclingtransaction; (C) storing, in electronic file storage, an indication ofeach recycling transaction, the indication including the transactionidentifier and consumer identifier.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereinthe act (C) further comprises storing, for each recycling transaction,information relating to the at least one recyclable container.
 3. Themethod of claim 2, wherein the information relating to the at least onerecyclable container comprises information on a beverage stored in eachcontainer.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the information relating tothe at least one recyclable container comprises information on amaterial from which each recyclable container is formed.
 5. The methodof claim 1, wherein the act (C) further comprises storing a date andtime of each recycling transaction in the electronic file storage. 6.The method of claim 1, wherein the act (C) further comprises storinginformation personally identifying each consumer.
 7. The method of claim1, wherein the act (C) further comprises storing information relating toan account to which the value is transferable.
 8. The method of claim 1,wherein the act (A) further comprises processing the at least onecontainer returned by the consumer to recover a material from which eachcontainer is formed, and the act (C) further comprises storinginformation relating to the material.
 9. The method of claim 8, whereinthe act (A) further comprises processing the at least one containerusing an automated apparatus, and the act (C) further comprises storinginformation relating to the apparatus.
 10. The method of claim 1,wherein one of the consumers performs a plurality of recyclingtransactions, and wherein the method further comprises an act of: (D)accessing the information in the electronic file storage to determineinformation on the recycling transactions performed by the consumer. 11.The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of consumersperforms a recycling transaction involving a plurality of recyclablecontainers, and wherein the method further comprises an act of: (E)accessing the information in the electronic file storage to determineinformation on the containers returned by the consumers.
 12. At leastone computer-readable medium having instructions encoded thereon, whichinstructions, when executed, perform a method of managing informationrelating to consumer recycling activities, the method comprising actsof: (A) performing a recycling transaction with each of a plurality ofconsumers, each consumer being identifiable via a consumer identifier,each recycling transaction comprising an exchange of at least onerecyclable container returned by a consumer for value; (B) assigning atransaction identifier to each recycling transaction; (C) storing, inelectronic file storage, an indication of each recycling transaction,the indication including the transaction identifier and consumeridentifier.
 13. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 12,wherein the act (C) further comprises storing, for each recyclingtransaction, information relating to the at least one recyclablecontainer.
 14. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 13,wherein the information relating to the at least one recyclablecontainer comprises information on a beverage stored in each container.15. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein theinformation relating to the at least one recyclable container comprisesinformation on a material from which each recyclable container isformed.
 16. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 12,wherein the act (C) further comprises storing a date and time of eachrecycling transaction in the electronic file storage.
 17. The at leastone computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the act (C) furthercomprises storing information personally identifying each consumer. 18.The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the act(C) further comprises storing information relating to an account towhich the value is transferable.
 19. The at least one computer-readablemedium of claim 12, wherein the act (A) further comprises processing theat least one container returned by the consumer to recover a materialfrom which each container is formed, and the act (C) further comprisesstoring information relating to the material.
 20. The at least onecomputer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the act (A) furthercomprises processing the at least one container using an automatedapparatus, and the act (C) further comprises storing informationrelating to the apparatus.
 21. The at least one computer-readable mediumof claim 12, wherein one of the consumers performs a plurality ofrecycling transactions, and wherein the method further comprises an actof: (D) accessing the information in the electronic file storage todetermine information on the recycling transactions performed by theconsumer.
 22. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 12,wherein each of the plurality of consumers performs a recyclingtransaction involving a plurality of recyclable containers, and whereinthe method further comprises an act of: (E) accessing the information inthe electronic file storage to determine information on the containersreturned by the consumers.
 23. A system for managing informationrelating to consumer recycling activities comprising: a transactioncontroller operable to perform a recycling transaction with each of aplurality of consumers, each consumer being identifiable via a consumeridentifier, each recycling transaction comprising an exchange of atleast one recyclable container returned by a consumer for value; anassignment controller operable to assign a transaction identifier toeach recycling transaction; an electronic file storage; a storagecontroller operable to store, in the electronic file storage, anindication of each recycling transaction, the indication including thetransaction identifier and consumer identifier.
 24. The system of claim23, wherein the storage controller is further operable to store, foreach recycling transaction, information relating to the at least onerecyclable container.
 25. The system of claim 24, wherein theinformation relating to the at least one recyclable container comprisesinformation on a beverage stored in each container.
 26. The system ofclaim 24, wherein the information relating to the at least onerecyclable container comprises information on a material from which eachrecyclable container is formed.
 27. The system of claim 23, wherein thestorage controller is further operable to store a date and time of eachrecycling transaction in the electronic file storage.
 28. The system ofclaim 23, wherein the storage controller is further operable to storeinformation personally identifying each consumer.
 29. The system ofclaim 23, wherein the storage controller is further operable to storeinformation relating to an account to which the value is transferable.30. The system of claim 23, wherein the transaction controller isfurther operable to process the at least one container returned by theconsumer to recover a material from which each container is formed, andthe storage controller is further operable to store information relatingto the material.
 31. The system of claim 30, wherein the transactioncontroller is further operable to process the at least one containerusing an automated apparatus, and the storage controller is furtheroperable to store information relating to the apparatus.
 32. The systemof claim 23, wherein one of the consumers performs a plurality ofrecycling transactions, and wherein the system further comprises: anaccess controller operable to access the information in the electronicfile storage to determine information on the recycling transactionsperformed by the consumer.
 33. The system of claim 23, wherein each ofthe plurality of consumers performs a recycling transaction involving aplurality of recyclable containers, and wherein the system furthercomprises: an access controller operable to access the information inthe electronic file storage to determine information on the containersreturned by the consumers.